If Patience is a Virtue, MN is Full of Saints
If Patience is a Virtue, MN is Full of Saints
This week's issue includes: Vice President Kamala Harris’ federal cannabis plan and OCM's deficiency notices to early license applicants
The Pre-Roll curates the most important cannabis news and developments at the intersection of policy, politics, and industry development. With over 3,100 subscribers, the Pre-Roll is Minnesota’s premier source for cannabis-related information and intelligence.
The Pre-Roll is written by Blunt Strategies, Minnesota’s first and only full-service strategic consultancy cultivated exclusively for the cannabis industry.
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The first three sections of The Pre-Roll (Announcements, Top 5 Must-Reads, and Upcoming Events) are always free to access, but the most in-depth legislative and agency updates, industry news and intelligence, and expert insights and analysis are reserved for our paid subscribers. To unlock the full edition and stay ahead of the curve, click the button below and upgrade your subscription today.
Announcements
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Samuel Poquette of New Ulm, a dedicated cannabis activist, community leader, and entrepreneur, who tragically lost his life in a motor vehicle accident on Sunday. Sam was a passionate advocate for safe access and the healing properties of cannabis, leading efforts with Sensible Change Minnesota and MN Vets 4 Cannabis. To support his partner, Tana, and their two young children, members of the cannabis community are organizing a virtual silent auction. Donations to the silent auction can be made through Sunday, October 20th. Additionally, you can contribute directly to Sam’s family through GoFundMe.
We’ve started hearing that the Office of Cannabis Management has begun issuing deficiency notices to some social equity-verified license pre-approval applicants. If you have an application pending, make sure to check your inbox regularly. So far, we’ve seen deficiency notices with deadlines for response or curing ranging from 5 to 14 days.
Hellmuth & Johnson has announced that attorney Nicole L. Rash has joined the firm as an associate in their Cannabis Law practice group. With multiple years of experience practicing in Washington State, Nicole has counseled a wide range of cannabis clients, from small family-owned businesses to large corporate hemp and cannabis operations. At Hellmuth & Johnson, Nicole will focus on guiding cannabis businesses through legal complexities as Minnesota’s adult-use market continues to develop. Please join us in welcoming Nicole to the MN cannabis fold!
Top 5 Must Reads
Vice President Kamala Harris has officially rolled out her marijuana legalization plan, pledging to make it "the law of the land" if she is elected President. Her plan focuses on ending federal prohibition, addressing the harms of prohibition, and expunging past cannabis convictions.. Harris emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for Black Americans in the emerging cannabis industry and criticized the Trump administration for its inconsistent stance on cannabis reform.
A former employee reports internal challenges at Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) as the new agency took over responsibility for the medical cannabis program from the Minnesota Department of Health resulting in over half of her team quitting this summer, citing OCM’s refusal to honor remote work schedules and resistance to feedback as key factors. The employee says this led to delays in medical cannabis certifications, leaving patients waiting weeks for medication. OCM attributed the problems to IT challenges, an increase in medical cannabis applications, and “natural attrition that occurs in any organization undergoing substantial change.”
Bonus 📻: OCM Interim Director Charlene Briner, in an interview this week, said that staff turnover at OCM was partially due to changing employee expectations—that the transition from the Minnesota Department of Health to OCM shifted the agency’s structure, and some employees found it challenging to adjust to the new work environment. Briner emphasized that these changes in expectations contributed to the staff departures, but reassured that most team members stayed on and that the agency's progress continues without disruption.
Missouri regulators have exposed and shut down predatory investors who tried to game the state’s social equity cannabis program by using disadvantaged Missourians as fronts to grab cannabis licenses. Of the 57 microbusiness licenses awarded in the June lottery, only 25 were certified, with many denied for failing to provide adequate documentation of their eligibility. Regulators made it clear that the state’s social equity program isn’t up for exploitation by out-of-state entities.
While Minnesota continues to navigate complex cannabis regulations and a slow rulemaking process Wisconsin’s lax regulation of hemp-derived products is creating an uneven playing field at the border, putting Minnesota’s more tightly regulated industry at a disadvantage as consumers cross the border for products illegal to sell in Minnesota. The lack of regulation in Wisconsin has allowed retailers to operate freely, but some businesses and officials are calling for more consistent oversight to protect consumers and create a level playing field.
Bonus 📻: Vicente attorney Jason Tarasek joined Chad Hartman on WCCO to discuss the differences between Minnesota’s and Wisconsin’s cannabis laws.
In a student note published in the Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology, Violet Butler explores the evolving regulatory landscape for hemp-derived products. Since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp with less than 0.3% THC, states have taken varying approaches to regulating these products. Some states, like Arkansas and Missouri, have enacted broad bans on Delta-8, Delta-9, and other THC isomers, raising questions about federal preemption and the role of state regulation. Meanwhile, other states have imposed age restrictions and limited sales of intoxicating hemp products. With federal lawmakers also considering stricter regulations, this piece highlights the growing concerns over synthetic cannabinoids and the push for clearer safety standards in the hemp industry.
💁🏻♀️: What do Leili Fatehi of Blunt Strategies and Eric Taubel, General Counsel at the Office of Cannabis Management, have in common? Both are former editors-in-chief of the Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology! Coincidence, or is MJLST quietly producing cannabis power players? Either way, if you’re looking to break into the legal cannabis scene, it might be time to brush up on your journal editing skills!
Upcoming Events
Cannabis Banking Webinar hosted by the Minnesota Credit Union Network. October 17, 1-2:30 PM.
Green Equity: A Cannabis Leadership Forum hosted by the Minority Cannabis Business Association. October 22, 11 AM - 9 PM in St. Paul.
How to Open & Run a Cannabis Dispensary in Minnesota hosted by COVA Software. October 23, 9 AM - 3 PM in Eagan.
Minnesota Psychedelic Roadshow hosted by Rep. Andy Smith, DecriMN, Big Psych, and Waking Nomad. October 15, 4 - 6 PM in Minnetonka and October 22, 5 - 6:30 PM in Rochester.
Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline Legal Cannabis Industry Forum hosted by the MN Department of Labor and Industry. November 8, 9 - 10 AM via webinar.
2024 Re-Imagining Justice Conference: Pivoting from Problem to Possibility hosted by the Minnesota Justice Research Center. November 19, 8 AM - 6 PM in Minneapolis.
The Lucky Leaf Expo is back in Minnesota Feb 28th to March 1 in Minneapolis. Booth registration is currently open.
The premium content that follows is available exclusively to our paid subscribers. This week’s premium content includes:
Updates on Minnesota’s asset forfeiture reforms
The latest round of municipal actions and hearings
Grown Rogue and Vireo’s business reshuffle
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